The Hindu : Remarks could lead to crisis, Chen told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 07, 2002

International

International

Remarks could lead to crisis, Chen told

A Chinese woman reads a newspaper showing pictures and the word warning, in Beijing on Tuesday. — AP

BEIJING AUG. 6. Intensifying its rhetoric, China filled its official newspapers on Tuesday with fresh condemnation of Taiwan's President, dispatching one political leader to dismiss recent independence-minded comments as ``splittist activities by a small force.''

State-controlled media also brimmed with quotations from scholars and what it said were public comments, all saying the same thing: Chen Shui-bian's remarks that Taiwan might ``walk its own road'' were dangerous, intolerable and worthy of robust denunciation.

``A warning to Chen Shui-bian,'' the Beijing Morning Post trumpeted on its front page. ``Remarks could lead to crisis,'' the English-language China Daily said.

China often uses its media as a mouthpiece to disseminate views and edicts to its people, to the world — and to Taiwan.

People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, quoted the vice-chairman of the national committee of China's top advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, as saying Mr. Chen's remarks were irresponsible.

``Chen is betting on the happiness of more than 20 million Taiwan compatriots and seeking to drive them onto a road of anguish,'' Ma Man Kei of Macau was quoted as saying.

He called Mr. Chen's comments representative of ``splittist activities by a small force'' and urged the Taiwanese leader to ``rein in at the brink of the precipice.''

China uses the term ``Taiwan compatriots'' as a way to emphasise it has no quarrel with the people of Taiwan, only those who would advocate the island's independence. Its media also consistently refer to Mr. Chen as Taiwan's ``president,'' using the dismissive quotation marks to buttress Beijing's contention that the island — being part of China — cannot have a chief executive.

People's Daily also devoted nearly a page to stories from Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan quoting newspapers there condemning Mr. Chen. Other State-controlled dailies followed the flagship newspaper's lead — as did the state newscast, which on Monday night devoted five minutes to criticising Mr. Chen.

Over the weekend, Mr. Chen said in a speech that Taiwan and China were both countries — a view anathema to Chinese leaders who believe the island belongs to China. A civil war split the two sides 53 years ago, and Beijing says the island must unify eventually or face war.

Mr. Chen did not specifically use the word ``independence,'' something sure to enrage Beijing even further.

Nevertheless, China's Taiwan Affairs Office accused Mr. Chen on Monday of pursuing independence against Taiwanese wishes, saying the moves would ``affect the economy of Taiwan, harm the fundamental interests of Taiwan residents and bring Taiwan into disaster.''

On Tuesday, apparently trying to quiet the uproar, Mr. Chen backed away a bit from his assertion, opting for a more fuzzy claim. In a statement, he said his comment about there being ``one country on each side'' of the Taiwan Strait was ``oversimplified'' and ``could cause misunderstanding.''

Taiwan said on Tuesday that China was holding war games directly across from Taiwan, but he called the drills routine and non-threatening. ``They are just regular exercises.'' — AP

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